Log In
September 2, 2025
Offline
Hi I recently acquired a WW1 trench gun from an older gentleman he didn’t know much about it just bought stuff for the looks so wasn’t sure what it was. I have done research for weeks now and spoke with some ww2 collectors and it appears the gun is an authentic trench gun but was hoping to get some expert opinions as well as explain a few things about the gun so the two items I was also seeking clarification on is the stock is a ww2 style with metal but plate and the the heat shield is ww1 style but no patent so was told that makes it a early ww2 shield. So my question becomes how would a ww1 gun have these pieces but not seeing any arsenal marks as well as having original bluing not parkarized. Second should I locate a ww1 stock and shield? But fit and finish match nicely and don’t want to ruin history. Here is the link to the pictures sorry I couldn’t post them on here.
April 15, 2005
Offline
No photos are found at the URL that you posted. You can send the pictures directly to me. Please include the serial number, and all of the factory markings found on the barrel, heat shield, and the slide bar.
Bert – [email protected]
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
September 2, 2025
Offline
[Image Can Not Be Found]Bert H. said
No photos are found at the URL that you posted. You can send the pictures directly to me. Please include the serial number, and all of the factory markings found on the barrel, heat shield, and the slide bar.
Bert – [email protected]
Here is an updated link I hope it works also tried to email everything over as well in case this link don’t work. Thanks
April 15, 2005
Offline
Non-original (WW II) slide bar, heat shield, and butt stock. The butt plate is a pre-WW I part, and the butt stock has been crudely altered to fit it up. Overall, the gun is a “Frankenchester” and definitely not a collector grade gun.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
December 31, 2012
Offline
May have been a Winchester re do judging by the pin hole in the receiver. A sign of a Winchester factory rework. Strange, but good looking Trench gun. Big Larry
April 15, 2005
Offline
Big Larry said
May have been a Winchester re do judging by the pin hole in the receiver. A sign of a Winchester factory rework. Strange, but good looking Trench gun. Big Larry
Did you look at the crude fitment of the checkered steel butt plate? Winchester would have never done something like that.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 26, 2014
Offline
The butt plate is the type used by armories as replacements on these guns. I have one done by an armory. But I agree with Bert that Winchester or an armory would never have fit it so sloppily.
December 31, 2012
Offline
No one knows who or what did that hash job on the stock after the fact, but as I pointed out, the punch mark signifies a Winchester rework. A stock can be found and this shotgun can be made whole again with very little effort. Fine, if you like reworks. I never did. Big Larry
April 29, 2025
Offline
Big Larry said
No one knows who or what did that hash job on the stock after the fact, but as I pointed out, the punch mark signifies a Winchester rework. A stock can be found and this shotgun can be made whole again with very little effort. Fine, if you like reworks. I never did. Big Larry
If you know where I could find a WWI 1897 trench stock, I have a gun waiting to be made whole again…… 
1 Guest(s)
